Parmesan Baked Asparagus
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Parmesan Baked Asparagus will become your favorite way to eat this delicious vegetable. Made with crisp asparagus, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Quick and easy to make side dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Parmesan Baked Asparagus
Asparagus is hands down my favorite vegetable. I love coming up with fun and tasty ways to eat it. Especially for my kids since they can quickly get tired of eating the same foods. So switching it up from time to time is a must for me. I also find it fun and love discovering new ways to cook and serve some of our favorite foods.
I’ve been making this Parmesan Baked Asparagus recipe for a couple of years now. My family loves it and it’s always a crowd pleaser. Everyone always has something good to say about this recipe. Made with crisp asparagus, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Quick and easy to make side dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes. Parmesan Baked Asparagus will become your favorite way to eat this delicious vegetable.
Ingredients needed to make Parmesan Baked Asparagus:
- Asparagus– Usually one bunch of asparagus brings about 14-18 stalks.
- Olive Oil– For cooking.
- Lemon Juice and Zest– For elevating flavor and a refreshing taste.
- Spices– Pink sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese– Get a fresh brick of parmesan cheese and grate yourself for best results.
Equipment needed to make Parmesan Baked Asparagus:
- Large Baking Sheet Pan– Use a sheet pan that is at least a half sized which are 13×18 inches.
- Parchment Paper– For lining baking sheet pan.
- Grater– To freshly grate parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
How to make Parmesan Baked Asparagus:
- Step 1– Preheat oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Step 2– Rinse and thoroughly dry one bunch of asparagus. Cut about 1-2 inches off the bottom of asparagus. Spread out over prepped sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil.
- Step 3– Drizzle asparagus with lemon juice, sprinkle lemon zest, pink sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Use your hands to toss asparagus making sure they are all well coated with oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and spices.
- Step 4– Line asparagus close to each other in a single file over sheet pan. Evenly sprinkle parmesan cheese over asparagus making sure they are well coated. Especially in the center.
- Step 5– Place asparagus in oven and bake for 12 minutes.
- Step 6– Remove asparagus from the oven and serve while still warm. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions:
- Use a baking sheet pan that is large enough– Use at least a half sized sheet pan which are 13×18 inches. This will allow you to spread out asparagus throughout the sheet pan.
- Line sheet pan with parchment paper– This will prevent the asparagus and cheese from sticking to the pan. It will also make clean up much easier.
- Get a brick of parmesan cheese and grate it yourself– Pre-packaged grated cheese have starch added to them to preserve them. This doesn’t allow for the cheese to melt instead it gets clumpy.
- Use any kind of asparagus– You can use regular green asparagus. Or purple or white ones. Or a combination of all for a very pretty dish.
- Use bigger and thicker stalks– Try not to use pencil thin asparagus. They tend to overcook when roasted. Use bigger and thicker stalks as they will get nice and crispy but not overcooked. Pick asparagus that are the same length and thickness for even cooking.
- Substitute for olive oil– Avocado oil works great.
Variations:
- Grill them– Prep your asparagus on a sheet pan or bowl and place on a grill basket or aluminum foil. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and grill.
- Make it vegan– Substitute parmesan cheese for vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast to make vegan friendly.
- Add some breadcrumbs– Breadcrumbs will add some extra crunch.
- Add some bacon– Add some crumbled bacon over it for extra fun!
What to serve Parmesan Baked Asparagus with:
Asparagus is a pretty versatile and delicious vegetable. These Parmesan Baked Asparagus can be served as a side dish to pretty much any main dish. I love serving it with chicken, beef, salmon, cod, shrimp, steak, and even ground turkey. Some of my favorite recipes to serve this asparagus with are:
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
- Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Cod
- Baked Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce
- Instant Pot Roasted Whole Chicken
- Orange Rosemary Chicken
Parmesan Baked Asparagus FAQ’s:
Why is my baked asparagus soggy?
Baked asparagus that results in being soggy is because it is overcooked. Asparagus cooks pretty quickly. It then continues to cook for a few more minutes after it has been removed from the oven. Thin asparagus cook even faster. Keep this in mind when you are cooking asparagus to avoid it getting soggy.
How do you choose fresh asparagus?
When looking for fresh asparagus you want to place close attention to the color. Look for bunches that have a bright, rich green that gets lighter towards the bottom. The bottom of the stalks are always lighter than the top. You want asparagus stalks that are firm and that the tips are tight. Avoid getting asparagus that is wilt with tips that are starting to spread.
Why should you cut the ends off asparagus?
The ends of asparagus tend to be woody and tough. They are very chewy when you try to eat them. It is best to trim these off. About 1-2 inches off the bottom of each asparagus stalk.
Storing and Reheating:
Place any leftover Parmesan Baked Asparagus in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in microwave or place back in the oven.
Did you like this Parmesan Baked Asparagus recipe? You may also like these other side dishes:
- Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes
- Honey-Ginger Roasted Carrots
- Garlic Parmesan Parsnip Fries
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Home Fries
Parmesan Baked Asparagus
Parmesan Baked Asparagus will become your favorite way to eat this delicious vegetable. Made with crisp asparagus, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Quick and easy to make side dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp juice lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp pink sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
Rinse and thoroughly dry one bunch of asparagus. Cut about 1-2 inches off the bottom of asparagus. Spread out over prepped sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil.
Drizzle asparagus with lemon juice, sprinkle lemon zest, pink sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Use your hands to toss asparagus making sure they are all well coated with oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and spices.
Line asparagus close to each other in a single file over sheet pan. Evenly sprinkle parmesan cheese over asparagus making sure they are well coated. Especially in the center.
Place asparagus in oven and bake for 12 minutes.
Remove asparagus from the oven and serve while still warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- Use a baking sheet pan that is large enough– Use at least a half sized sheet pan which are 13×18 inches. This will allow you to spread out asparagus throughout the sheet pan.
- Line sheet pan with parchment paper– This will prevent the asparagus and cheese from sticking to the pan. It will also make clean up much easier.
- Get a brick of parmesan cheese and grate it yourself– Pre-packaged grated cheese have starch added to them to preserve them. This doesn’t allow for the cheese to melt instead it gets clumpy.
- Use any kind of asparagus– You can use regular green asparagus. Or purple or white ones. Or a combination of all for a very pretty dish.
- Use bigger and thicker stalks– Try not to use pencil thin asparagus. They tend to overcook when roasted. Use bigger and thicker stalks as they will get nice and crispy but not overcooked. Pick asparagus that are the same length and thickness for even cooking.
- Substitute for olive oil– Avocado oil works great.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
